Cat-a-Palooza

It’s been a crazy week for cat stories. 

Early in the week, Mary stopped traffic to rescue a kitten from the middle of a road (kitty’s sibling wasn’t so lucky 😔.) They named her Princess Muffin Top… until the vet visit a few days later when they discovered he will need a new name. 

Such a cute little boy! Update! His name is Saber.

Next day, my niece in Oregon found and rescued a couple of two-ish week old kittens while on her morning walk. She’s already found them a home. 😍

Our cats missed me us while we were taking Jac home. Coco hasn’t been much of a lap cat since we got her in May but she’s practically living in my lap since we got home. 

My favorite refrain - “I’d get up but it wouldn’t be right to disturb the cat…” 

Ginger will flop on Pop or me, whomever is closer. Both girls love him.

We’re still trying to get the cats used to each other. There were lots of hisses and growls the first day I left the bedroom door open for them to get acquainted.

 Hissing from the high ground

It stopped fairly quickly and they sat watching each other with only occasional outbursts from Ginger.

I think Coco would really like to be friends. She sits at the top of the stairs or on the landing waiting for Ginger to come out.

And Ginger? Yesterday she had an hissy fit and ran under the bed as soon as Coco appeared. 

Today she hissed twice, then stretched out beside me while keeping an eye on the intruder. Hey, it’s progress!

Giant Spoonbill

Technically, this is a Roseate Spoonbill but it’s a giant piece of paper-piecing. And? It’s finished!

22 x 33”

I’ve been putting this off since February, almost entirely because of the size. It really wasn’t that bad… if you don’t count the piece I accidentally printed twice - and sewed fabric onto both - then couldn’t understand why nothing fit together. 🙄

This probably doesn’t count as a true fabric ‘chicken’ but I only had a fat quarter of this fabric, and I’d been cutting into it with abandon, not realizing the last pattern piece needed a big piece of pink. Shoulda planned better but it fit! Felt like I won the lottery. (I’m easily amused…) Only one bird left to go!

Last Day

The girls were not overly happy with the start of our day. 

We hitched a ride from Marie (on her way to work) 

to the far side of River Front Park 

where there’s a playground Jac said she wanted to revisit. 

The plan was to walk back to the hotel, via a second playground, while also providing exercise entertainment to River the Dog. 

The playgrounds were a bust (too hot)

and the lovely river views from the two bridges we hadn’t yet been on (I think there are 5 in the park?)

did not make up for the heat and the 3/4 mile hike, in the girls’ view. 

What’s a grandparent to do?? 

Bribe them with ice cream, then drive to lunch at one of their favorite restaurants 

with the car’s air conditioning set to “icicles hanging from our ears.”

That’s the end of Adventures With Jaclyn for this year. 

Jac said her family was coming to us for Christmas, to which her mom replied, “say what???” So I guess that’s not happening. 😜 

Jac also said this was the Best Trip Ever and the first of her now annual summer visits. Going to hold her to that. 😍

Riverfront Park, Spokane

We covered some ground today! 

Our original idea was to have a nice lunch then visit the Mobius Discovery Museum, parking as close as we could since Marie is in a walking ‘boot’ for her sprained ankle. Simple, easy, done.

But! 

The SkyRide was right! there! just across from the museum. 

Lots of art pieces along the riverbed. The metal horse and rider was a family favorite.

We outvoted Jac (she’s not a fan of heights) and it was wonderful. 

Such great views of the river and big falls (not to be confused with the ‘little’ falls in yesterday’s pics). 

And the spider web just over Pop’s shoulder…

We’d read that the Discovery museum was small so thought the girls would

whoosh in, see the exhibits and zoom out.

Nope! The only thing that got them back out the doors, a solid two hours later, was the museum’s closing time. 

So many well thought-out, hands-on activities to keep toddlers to teens engaged. 

Giant bubble machine,

making/flying paper airplanes,

excavating dinosaur bones,

petting crested geckos,

and so much more.

Pop had the bright idea to have dinner at the original Frank’s diner. We thought we were headed there last trip but ended up at their second location, miles away from downtown. This Frank’s was about 6 minutes from our hotel.

The portions are huge, everything is fresh and delicious. Leo’s eyes about popped out of her head from the size of her fancy waffle. 

 Day and night view across the river, plus Jac’s favorite blood moon (oh, the stories she invented for why it’s red! I’m going to miss that…)

Jac is spending the night with us for the last time (😩). We’ll spend tomorrow afternoon with Jac, Leo and River the dog, then Tuesday we fly home. And maybe sleep for a week. It’s been a great trip!

Travel Day+

Last night we finished off Jac’s must-do list by ‘watering the lizards’, one of Jac’s - and Donovan’s - favorite activities. 

 Practicing her rooster-tails

It brings her trip full circle since on one of her first days here she actually caught a lizard. (Here)

Travel day was pretty uneventful, except for the 30+ minute delay because our plane had no crew. (They blamed it on traffic…) Not sure when Saturday turned into any easy, no crowds fly-day but it’s been working for us. 

 One night ‘over there’ is about the same $ as 3 nights over here. Loved the splurge but once was probably enough …

We’re on the other side of the Spokane River this time, almost directly across from our first hotel. (Here) 

We have a balcony room on the top floor, overlooking the river. Jac is once again thrilled to have a giant pull-out sofa bed. 

 Riverwalk behind our hotel…

Once we reached our hotel, I thought we were done for the day… 

… and a bridge to Riverfront Park

but this is Spokane… 

 Sunset

and our hotel is near the falls… 

How could we resist?? 

 Movies in the park on summer Saturday nights

Such a pretty town. 

Ready to be done with this hike…

Can’t wait to see more of it.

 Little bit of sunset, little bit of wildfire smoke, interesting light for pictures

 Jac has plans to go back to that playground.